3 Penguins Entering Their Final Year With The Team

The Pittsburgh Penguins are rebuilding, that isn't a secret. Kyle Dubas is running the show and will be trying to move players of value, get younger, and build for the future. By doing that, there is going to be roster turnover throughout the season and the team should look quite different come 2026-27.

Erik Karlsson

Erik Karlsson will be a tough player to trade mid-season because of his large contract, but if nothing gets done before this season, next offseason is the best option for Pittsburgh. The team has to move a $10 million AAV contract and some team has to have the space and need for him at the same time. The Penguins will retain, but it is still a large contract to make room for. He has two years left on his deal, so a team won't have to commit to him for too long and Karlsson is still a veteran defenseman at the top of his game now that he's healthy.

Kevin Hayes

The Penguins have been and will continue to make room for some younger players and Kevin Hayes hasn't been a great addition. He is headed into the final year of his deal and if the Penguins can't find a way to trade him for something, then the team just won't re-sign him to give the opportunity in the lineup to an inexperienced player. Hayes is 33 years old and had 13 goals and 23 points in 64 games last season.

Matt Dumba

Matt Dumba was always a one-year option for the Penguins since they acquired him as a cap dump from the Dallas Stars. He is hardly going to be useful for the Penguins this season and there will be a very low chance Pittsburgh is able to flip him at the deadline. Dumba won't get into very many games as was the case last season and will likely find it tough to get signed in the offseason after he becomes a UFA.